Ami Suzuki

is a Japanese recording artist, DJ, and actress from Zama, Kanagawa, Japan. Following her late 90s fame as a popular teen idol, Suzuki went on to become known for her self-penned lyrics and music production.

In 2000, Suzuki entered a legal battle with her management company, which resulted her being blacklisted from the entertainment industry. Suzuki independently released two singles before signing to Avex Trax in 2005. Suzuki has also made a name for herself in the acting field, starring in various movies, television series, and musicals.

Biography

1998: Asayan While attending high school, Suzuki auditioned for Japanese talent show Asayan, which was searching for a young vocalist under the direct guidance of Tetsuya Komuro. She preferred athletics at the time and was reluctant to travel from her home in Kanagawa, but was convinced by a friend. From 13,500 contestants, only five girls were chosen to be in the final round, and 15-year-old Suzuki was voted as the finalist winner. A week later, the singer released her second studio album, Infinity Eighteen Vol. 1, which debuted at number one. Suzuki has said of this first period of her career that she was not free to do what she wanted and only followed what she was told, leaving her feeling "pretty disheartened and down, like there was no future". In court documents, it was revealed that AG Communication had paid her very little: despite eight-figure record sales that year, Suzuki earned just $1500 a month at the start of her career, and a 0.4% royalty rate on CDs, raised to 0.55% in 1999.

Having lost all of her endorsements, Suzuki was faced with the problem of production companies refusing to work with her publicly. Her relationship with long-time collaborator Tetsuya Komuro also ceased. A compilation album of Suzuki's tracks, Fun for Fan, was released on 30 May 2001. It reached number one on the Oricon charts, despite the fact that Sony had ceased all public promotions and removed her back catalogue from stores.

2003–2004: Independent activities In 2003, Suzuki negotiated an out-of-court agreement with Sony. Her contract with the label was scheduled to end in December 2004. In addition, a four-track mini concert DVD titled 2004 Summer Fly Hight: Ami Shower was released on 17 November.

Through October and November Suzuki had performances at various festivals, and in December she began the Ami's Love for You – Live tour. During its final concert, Suzuki officially announced her transfer to Avex, and her comeback to the major music industry. In November, celebrating the Japanese 55th Anniversary of Snoopy, Suzuki released a single titled "Happiness is...", which was sold exclusively at the Snoopy Life Design Happiness is the 55th Anniversary event held in Tokyo. On 7 December, Suzuki released her fifth Avex single, "Little Crystal". On 31 December, Suzuki was awarded with the Gold Prize for Best New Artist at the 47th Japan Record Awards.

On 8 February 2006, Suzuki released her sixth Avex single, "Fantastic", which was used as third opening theme of the TV anime series Blackjack. On 29 March, her first remix album, titled Amix World, was released. The album included remixes made by Japanese and international producers, including Space Cowboy, Clazziquai Project, Jonathan Peters and Ferry Corsten. For her fifth single "Alright!", released on 17 May, she distanced herself from her previous trance-influenced dance material and explored a more mainstream sound. Suzuki's eighth single on Avex, "Like a Love?", was released 26 July 2006. In October of the same year, Suzuki debuted as a movie actress in Rainbow Song, directed by Naoto Kumazawa and produced by Shunji Iwai.

2007: Connetta and Dolce In February 2007, Suzuki officially started a new project called "Join". Collaboration singles with Buffalo Daughter, THC!! and Kirinji were released in a three-week period starting on 28 February to 14 March. Her "Join" album and second Avex album, Connetta, was released on 21 March, and included collaborations with several artists including Hideki Kaji, Scoobie Do, Ayano Tsuji and Northern Bright. Her acting career also continued; Suzuki starred in the live action drama Skull Man, and also the collaboration drama Under the Magnolia, in which she starred the leading role along with Lee Wan.

Suzuki's fourth "Join" single and first Avex double A-side single, "Free Free/Super Music Maker", was released on 22 August 2007. For this single's promotion Suzuki's image changed drastically; her new look was called as "ero-pop" by herself and by the media, drawing comparisons to Avex contemporary Koda Kumi. In December 2007 it was announced that Suzuki would be starring a new TV drama called Oishii Depachika. It premiered in January 2008 on TV Asahi.

2008–2011: Supreme Show and DJ debut In 2008, Suzuki celebrated her tenth anniversary in the music industry. Suzuki released her second "Join" album and third Avex studio album, Dolce, on 6 February. Suzuki's fifth collaboration single, "One", was released on 2 July. At the release party of the single on 5 July, Suzuki officially launched her career as a DJ and performed live along with Nakata. The second anniversary single, "Can't Stop the Disco", released on 24 September. Her tenth anniversary album, Supreme Show, was released on 12 November.

In September 2008, Suzuki debuted as the main character in the Avex 20th anniversary musical, Kokoro no Kakera, along with Yu-ki from TRF. In November, Suzuki played the main role in another TV drama: this time for the 40th anniversary special remake of Ai no Gekijo's Love Letter. From 27 September – 7 August 2009, Suzuki starred in her second musical: Blood Brothers. Suzuki recorded a song called "Kiss Kiss Kiss", which appeared on the House Nation compilation Aquamarine. In 2010, Suzuki's cover version of Kylie Minogue's international hit "Can't Get You Out of My Head" appeared on the compilation "Tokyo Girls Collection" 10th Anniversary Runway Anthem. She also collaborated with special unit Phoenix 2:00am, providing vocals for "Living in the Castle". In July 2010, Suzuki released Blooming, her first compilation album as a DJ. In August 2011, Suzuki provided guest vocals for the collaboration song "Thx A Lot".

On 9 February 2011, a birthday concert live was broadcast online via the website Nico Nico Douga. In March 2011, after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Suzuki joined Gackt's charity campaign "Show Your Heart". On 27 July, a newly recorded version of her debut single "Love the Island" was released. On 7 December, Suzuki released her first Avex greatest hits album: Ami Selection. The tracklist consisted of singles from across her career, including indie single "Tsuyoi Kizuna".

2012–2013: Snow Ring In 2012, Suzuki starred as the host of Who's Shining??, which she organized and participated in as one of the DJs. Participating artists included Genki Rockets and May's. In July, the singer released a series of iPhone cases that she designed, as well as a Hello Kitty which was exhibited in Tokyo. In September, Suzuki participated in the musical Hashire Melos along with musicians Ryuichi Kawamura, Kazumi Morohoshi, Izam, and Nami Tamaki.

Snow Ring was released as an EP on 6 February 2013. The EP also included the full Ami Suzuki 19th Anniversary Live concert.

2014–2020: Graduation, marriage On 2 June 2014, a new single titled "Graduation" was announced. The song, which commemorated Suzuki's 15th anniversary since her debut, was the first song produced by Komuro since 2000. It was released digitally on 4 June.

On 1 July 2016, Suzuki announced her marriage. Together, she and her partner have two sons (born 2017 and 2020) and a daughter (born 2022).

2021-present: Ami no AmiGo TV, 25th anniversary In January 2021, Suzuki launched Suzuki Ami no AmiGo TV (Ami Suzuki's AmiGo TV; 鈴木亜美のあみーゴTV) on YouTube, which features her showcasing spicy food. When asked about her current work, she said: "Right now, I want to work harder on food product development, so I recently obtained a qualification as a spice sommelier. Since my life revolves around raising my children and doing housework, I would like to share the recipes I learn through YouTube." In September, Suzuki released digital single "Drip", which was also used as the theme for Taiwanese movie My First Coffee. Promotion included a music video uploaded to the singer's YouTube channel; her first in twelve years.

From 2022, Suzuki returned to holding live concerts, which have included Ami Suzuki Birthday Live: 40 Times Super Spicy, Ami Suzuki & Maki Goto Xmas Talk & Live 2022, and Ami Suzuki 25th Anniversary Live: Let's Party. On 1 July 2023, Suzuki released digital single "I Just Feel Good" with TeddyLoid to celebrate her twenty-fifth anniversary since debut.

In April 2025, Suzuki performed alongside Tetsuya Komuro at the JigoRock 2025 festival held in Oita, Japan. Other performers included Akina Nakamori, Kiyoshi Hikawa, and Denki Groove.

Discography

SA (1999) Infinity Eighteen Vol. 1 (2000) Infinity Eighteen Vol.2 (2000) Around the World (2005) Connetta (2007) Dolce (2008) Supreme Show (2008) Photobooks AmiGo, 1999 Amix, 2000 Ami '02 Natsu, 2002 Ami Book, 2003 Tsuyoi Kizuna, 2004

Awards

The Japan Record Awards – Best New Artist The Japan Record Awards – Gold Prize – "all night long"1999All Japan Request Awards – Grand Prix Best Hit Song Festival Gold Prize – Best Pop Artist The Japan Record Awards – Best New Artist after 7 years Ami won this award again as a renovated artist. The Japan Record Awards – Gold Prize – "Eventful"

Filmography

Film Year Film Role Notes 2005 Rainbow Song Sayumi Kubo 2007 X-Cross Aiko Hiuke Lead role 2012 Ghost Writer Hotel Megumi Kamei Ouran High School Host Club Kotoko Fujioka

Television Year TV show Role Notes 2000 Dive Deep Kami Inoue Lead role 2007 Skull Man: Prologue of Darkness Michiko Komyōji Lead role Under the Magnolia Miki Lead role Itsumo Kimochi Switch o Keiko Katakura Guest in third episode 2008 Oishii Depachika Mari Hiuma Lead role Otome Lead role in 5 episodes Shichi-nin no Onna Bengoshi Mutsumi Tashiro Guest in first episode of season 2 Love Letter: Love Theatre, 40th Anniversary Show Minami Tadokoro (adult) Lead role 2009 Mayonaka no Satsujinsha Special of Yonimo Kimyō na Monogatari Love Game Tsubaki Yayoi Guest in third episode Ohitorisama Chihiro Aoki Guest in third episode 2010 Face Maker Nobuko Kisaragi (Ayumi Okamoto) Guest in ninth episode 2011 Shin Keishichō Sōsa Ikka 9 Gakari Kanazawa Misato Guest in third episode of season 3 Ouran High School Host Club Kotoko Fujioka Guest in first episode 2020 The Way of the Househusband Ayaka Chigira Guest in third episode

Theater plays Kokoro no Kakera (2008) Blood Brothers (2009) King of the Blue (2010) Watashi no Atama no Naka no Keshigomu (2010) Genghis Khan: Wa ga Tsurugi, Nessa o Shime yo (2011) Hashire Melos (2012) Shinshū Tenma Kyō (2013)

TV commercials Guam Tourism Campaigns (June 1998 – December 1998) Alpen Snowboards' Kissmark (October 1998 – January 1999) PlayStation 2's Monster Rancher 2 (February 1999 – April 1999) Asahi Soft Drinks's Bireley's (March 1999 – December 2000) Kodak Cameras (April 1999 – March 2001) MOS Burger (July 1999) Kanebo Cosmetics' Prostyle (September 1999 – June 2001) ECCJ's Summer/Winter Energy Saving Campaign (February 2000 – August 2000) Bourbon (September 2000 – June 2001) Music.jp (November 2004 – December 2004) Nexus Web Marketing's N's Street (August 2005) Mister Donut/Avex CD Campaign (July 2008) Sanyo Shinpan Finance's Pocket Bank (May 2009) Nissei Advance 10th Anniversary (Oct 2011)